CHICAGO (September 18, 2021)
 
In Short…
Senior Abby Swanson's goal in the dying seconds of regulation capped off a thrilling comeback as the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team downed visiting Indiana State (2-6-1, 0-1-0 MVC) by a 2-1 final this afternoon in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at Loyola Soccer Park.  Today's victory moves the Ramblers to 5-2-1 overall (1-0-0 MVC).

Head Coach Barry Bimbi's Thoughts…
"It was a battle until the end.  I think one of the biggest things that we preach to the team is that winning is hard.  There's a different intensity when you get into conference play.  With what we've done the last three years, we know that we'll get everyone's best shot.  Credit to Indiana State.  They came out and had their foot on the gas.  I'm really proud of the refocus of the group after halftime."
 
How It Happened
After sitting through a three-hour weather delay prior to the postponement of last night's originally scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff, Loyola wasted no time in testing Indiana State goalkeeper Maddie Alexander, with senior Bailey Faulkner and junior Kyrsten Pellikan each putting attempts on target inside the opening seven minutes.
 
Following Loyola's early pressure, it would be the visitors who struck first.  CeCe Wahlberg found a misplayed pass at her feet in the 13^th minute and rolled her attempt from just inside the 18-yard box through traffic and in at the far post, staking the Sycamores to a 1-0 lead.  Wahlberg's bid for a second shortly after was calmly collected by senior goalkeeper Maddie Hausmann.
 
Loyola heaped on pressure as the first half wore on, but was unable to pull level, as Alexander closed the opening stanza with five saves to send Indiana State into the intermission with a 1-0 edge.
 
It took the Maroon & Gold all of eight minutes to find an equalizer in the second half.  Graduate student Katherine Stephens sent a feed to the top the 18-yard box that connected with junior Megan Nemec, who unleashed a screaming right-footed blast that bested a diving Alexander at her far post and put Loyola back on level terms, 1-1.  Junior Amanda Cassidy had a golden opportunity from point-blank range to put the Ramblers in front less than four minutes later, only to see Alexander make arguably her top save of the day, keeping the two teams deadlocked.
 
With time ticking away and overtime looking likely, Loyola had a last-gasp chance off a corner kick in the 90^th minute.  A delivery from Faulkner found Swanson, who headed inside the near post with only five seconds left to give the Ramblers a 2-1 lead and ultimately seal a thrilling victory to open Valley play.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Following today's win, Loyola is now 7-0-2 (.889) all-time in MVC openers.
- Swanson's game-winning goal marked her first tally of the season.  She is the eighth different Rambler to find the back of the net on the year.
- Nemec netted team-high fourth goal to put Loyola on the board early in the second half.
- Faulkner picked up her first career assist on Swanson's game-winner, while Stephens was credited with her first helper of the year on Nemec's strike.
- Loyola finished the day with a dominant 28-2 advantage in shots, outshooting Indiana State by a 17-0 margin in the second half.
- Alexander was terrific in goal for the Sycamores, finishing with nine saves.
 
Up Next
Loyola is back in action on Saturday, September 25 when it hosts Northern Iowa on Alumnae Day.  Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Loyola Soccer Park.